‘We’ve got spirit’
Students had an opportunity to pick up free IU gear as they walked to and from classes
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Students had an opportunity to pick up free IU gear as they walked to and from classes
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A graffiti-covered concrete wall sits on stage. The words “Sharks” and “Jets” are etched on the wall.The wall comes up. The Jets, a group of Polish-Americans, appear onstage first and begin to dance. In the middle of the dance, a member of the Sharks, a group of immigrants from Puerto Rico, enters. The Jets stop and rebuff the Sharks member.A dance battle ensues, highlighting the rivalry between the two gangs on New York City’s west side.The musical “West Side Story” made its first-ever appearance in the IU Auditorium Tuesday. Another performance will take place at 8 p.m. today.The show is famous for its choreography. Another dance battle between the groups occurs later at a dance in a neighborhood gym. During this dance, Tony, a member of the Jets, and Maria, a young Puerto Rican immigrant, meet and fall in love. They sneak away to Maria’s balcony and express their love with the well-known song “Tonight,” while Bernardo, leader of the Sharks, listening right inside the balcony door. Freshman Kaitlyn Hockerman said Tuesday was the first time she had seen the musical live.“This has always been one of my favorite movies,” she said, “so I just decided to take advantage of the opportunity when it presented itself.”Hockerman said her favorite parts of “West Side Story” are the musical numbers and the adaptation of the classic story.“I’m a huge musical fan, and hearing it live is going to be 100 times better than watching it on screen,” she said. “I really like the time period as well.”“West Side Story” first opened on Broadway in 1957. The current national tour is based on the 2009 Broadway revival. Joy and Dean Jones came to the auditorium with their children, Levi, 12, and Lydia, 9. Joy said seeing the show was Lydia’s birthday present.Joy said though she and Lydia had previously seen “West Side Story” through a production at the Project School Bloomington, Dean and Levi had never seen it. “We just enjoy theater,” Joy said. “It’s a really fun show. We thought it would be a good introduction for our kids to professional theater.”Before the show, members of the cast gave a talk to audience members about life as part of “West Side Story.” Another talk took place after the show. Margaret Radke, a Bloomington resident and alum of the Jacobs School of Music, said she has seen “West Side Story” many times, some of them through the opera department of Jacobs.“I grew up with this,” she said. “This is Bernstein. This is classic.”She said her favorite part of the show is the music.“It’s stellar,” she said. “Modern music does not get any better than this.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>There will be a performance of the long-running musical “West Side Story” at 8 p.m. today and Wednesday at the IU Auditorium. The performance marks the end of the auditorium’s 2013-14 season and the first time the show has ever played at IU Auditorium.Tickets start at $20 for students and $38 for the general public. They may be purchased at iuauditorium.com or at the auditorium’s box office.The musical, loosely based on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” takes place in a neighborhood on New York City’s west side in the mid-1950s. The story centers around a rivalry between two gangs of different ethnicities — the Jets, a group of Polish-Americans, and the Sharks, a group of immigrants from Puerto Rico. At a dance, Tony, a member of the Jets, meets Maria, a young Puerto Rican-American woman. They fall in love, but because of flaring tensions between the two groups, they must keep their relationship discreet. The two hope to run away and find a place where they can be together in peace.Benjamin Dallas Redding — a 2013 graduate of Elon University in North Carolina — plays Riff, leader of the Jets. “West Side Story” marks his first major national tour. “I have never learned so much in my whole life,” he said. “It is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but one of the most rewarding.”The original production of “West Side Story” opened on Broadway in 1957. It was directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Well-known songs include “Tonight,” “Maria” and “I Feel Pretty.” “West Side Story” was nominated for six Tony Awards in 1957, including Best Musical. In 1961, the stage show was adapted into a film starring Richard Beymer as Tony and Natalie Wood as Maria. The movie won 10 of the 11 Academy Awards for which it was nominated, including Best Picture. “West Side Story” was revived on Broadway four times, most recently in 2009. The 2009 revival, with book by Arthur Laurents, was the basis for the current national tour. Redding said the hardest parts of the show are life on the road and the physical exhaustion from all the dancing. The storyline can also be tough to perform each night, he added.“It’s a very emotional piece,” he said. “When I’m in the show, I’m never thinking about it. But by the time it’s over, I want to pass out and go to bed.” Although the show can be exhausting and emotionally taxing, Redding said he enjoys spending time with the rest of the cast. He said they’ve been together since March 8.“The fact that we still get along so well is a huge testament to this group,” he said. “It’s been an awesome experience.” Redding said he and his fellow actors try to keep “West Side Story” true to form with each performance.“We try to stay as real to what these people’s lives would be like as much as we possibly can,” he said.Redding said he enjoys being part of “West Side Story” because it’s a good show with a good story.“It’s hard not to have a night where you’re not super proud of what you’re doing,” he said. “If I wasn’t proud of this show already, I am even more now.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The skies were a clear blue and the sun shined down on Dunn Meadow on Saturday for the second annual “Hey St. Jude!” benefit concert.The event, sponsored by the Human Biology Student Government, featured food, games, karaoke and music from local bands. Proceeds benefitted St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. The hospital aims to prevent and find cures for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Senior Jessica Shaker, president of the Human Biology Student Government, said St. Jude has been a part of her life since she was young.She said members of her family are on the hospital’s board and have taken part in fundraising efforts in her hometown Chicago. She interned at the hospital last summer and will work there again this summer. Shaker said after she saw a music video campaign put on by the hospital for the “Hey St. Jude!” concerts, she wanted to bring one to Bloomington.“I just thought it would be cool to do something here,” she said. “People have done it, but we tried to make it our own.” Some students in attendance wore T-shirts that read, “Finding cures, saving children.” Shaker said her favorite thing about St. Jude is no child’s family has to pay for treatment. The hospital needs about $3 million per day to keep facilities up and running, she said, and that money is mainly provided through donations and grants.“It’s pretty amazing that they manage to fundraise this,” Shaker said.Attendees had the opportunity to participate in a few small game tournaments and win prizes donated from local vendors, which included Taste of India, Noodles & Company and Yogi’s Bar and Grill. Another contest had participants guess the number of jellybeans in a jar. Performers included folk bands the Underhills and Dietrich John, blues band Lost Catfish and rock band Fizzbang. Lost Catfish bass player Justin Peña, who calls himself “Gilby,” said he heard about the concert from his bandmates and simply came along to perform.“We like humans and biology,” he said.Senior Austen Rang, vice president of the Human Biology Student Government, said all of the participating bands were supportive of the event and very willing to help out. He said he enjoyed seeing people come together to have fun and raise money for a good cause. “Hopefully we can keep it going for a few years to come,” he said.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It was a blend of old and new.The Jacobs School of Music’s Singing Hoosiers took the IU Auditorium stage Saturday for two performances of its annual spring concert. The Singing Hoosiers, now in its 64th season, are led by Steve Zegree, the Pam and Jack Burns Professor of Music at the Jacobs School.“We’ve been waiting for you,” Zegree said to the audience. “What took you so long to get here?”The Grammy-nominated ensemble sang and danced to everything from classics by Hoagy Carmichael to “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Following spring concert tradition, Singing Hoosiers alumni joined the group onstage for “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The performance also featured two medleys arranged, choreographed, costumed and produced entirely by students. The first medley paid tribute to heroes and villains and included theme songs from “Batman” and “Spiderman,” as well as Cruella De Vil from “101 Dalmatians,” Mariah Carey’s “Hero” and “Zero to Hero” from “Hercules.” Bloomington resident Daniel Barnett said he enjoyed seeing the students act out different songs and themes from his childhood. He had never seen the Singing Hoosiers before and said he was impressed with how the numbers had a lot of student input.“It’s not very formal,” Barnett said of the concert. “It’s a lot of fun.” The second medley, “Dancing Through The Years,” included “The Twist,” “The Chicken Dance,” “The Macarena” and “Single Ladies” by Beyonce. During this medley, one student impersonated Elvis Presley with “Blue Suede Shoes.” A group of men dressed as women from the ’70s performed ABBA’s “Dancing Queen.” Bloomington High School South seniors Denise Dorotho and Mackenzie Motsinger came to watch some of their friends who were performing. Both said they enjoyed the show, particularly the medleys.“It’s been really fun,” Dorotho said. “There’s so much to watch. It’s fun to bounce around and see how everyone’s performing.”Throughout the night, the audience laughed and clapped along to the music. Zegree said audience enjoyment is key to a good show for the Singing Hoosiers.“There’s nothing better for a group of performers than to have an enthusiastic audience,” he said. “Can we take you wherever we go?”The ensemble will travel to Valparaiso April 6. In May, they tour Australia. Senior member Andrew Wolverton said for this show, the group rehearsed every Monday through Friday for about an hour and 15 minutes each day. The Varsity Dancers, the students who dance at the front of the stage, rehearsed an additional seven to eight hours per week. Everyone practiced the medleys for another three hours each Sunday. “We are busy, busy, busy,” Wolverton said. “But it’s so worth it in the end to have the final product.” He said this show was the Singing Hoosiers’ best of the year. Wolverton said he and his fellow seniors were emotional since it was the last show of the season.“The curtain closed, and we just let it loose,” he said. “I’m going to miss my family here in Singing Hoosiers.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Eight Bloomington High School South students gathered around a table, a menorah sitting in the center.It was Hanukkah.After presenting her gifts to the others, freshman Maria Lysandrou led the group in a traditional Hanukkah song. Suddenly, they heard a crash. A dog barked. The students stood still and remained quiet, some huddling together. They heard footsteps getting louder and louder. The student playing Otto peaks through the bookcase door to see whom it was.“I think they’re gone,” he said. Everyone was relieved — it was only a thief. They thought it was the Gestapo, the Nazi police, discovering their hiding place.BHSS’ performance of “The Diary of Anne Frank” will begin at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the school’s auditorium. They will perform again at the same times on April 5. Tickets cost $10 for students in grades K-12 and $15 for the general public. They are available for purchase in advance on musicalartstix.com and at the BHSS box office 30 minutes before each show begins.The play is based on Anne Frank’s “The Diary of a Young Girl.” Frank’s family was forced into hiding during World War II and, along with another family, spent two years living in a secret office apartment in Amsterdam to avoid the Nazis. During that time, Frank kept a diary. Her diary was first published in 1947, and the original play opened on Broadway in 1955. BHSS is performing a new adaptation by Wendy Kesselman. Catharine Rademacher, a BHSS drama teacher and the play’s director, chose to use an onstage “in-the-round” seating style. Because of this, only 100 seats are available per performance. The seats surround the edges of the stage. Wooden beds, tables, chairs and blankets lie in the middle. A bookcase with stairs leading to a small attic on the other side stands toward the curtain at the back of the stage. Quotes from Frank’s diary are painted on the stage, winding their way through the middle section. Nazi propaganda and swastikas around the auditorium complete the set.Attendees enter the auditorium and go behind the stage before coming onstage through the bookcase’s door. “I wanted the audience to feel like they were in the attic,” Rademacher said. “I really wanted it to feel close.”Rademacher traveled to Poland last summer, where she visited the Auschwitz concentration camp. “I really wanted to bring the experience back to not only my students, but to as many people as possible,” she said. She said she chose to perform “The Diary of Anne Frank” because Frank’s story was familiar to both audiences and students.“People know about her,” Rademacher said. “I just thought people would be more in touch with it.” Lysandrou, who plays Anne, said she read the diary last year in one of her classes and wanted to learn more about it through theater. “I was excited to learn about her story,” Lysandrou said. “I really wanted to be a part of it.”She said she watched documentaries about the Holocaust to further prepare herself for the role.“She matured a lot during her life,” Lysandrou said. “Anne is not like the other people in this play. I would’ve been scared to death, but Anne is hopeful. She skips around the room and is very bright.” The cast has rehearsed since January. Rademacher and the students visited the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Terre Haute, where they heard from museum founder and Auschwitz survivor Eva Kor.“Hearing from her made it a real experience,” Lysandrou said. To better understand the Hanukkah scene, Rademacher had the students learn about traditional Hanukkah foods and songs. She said some of the cast members are Jewish, and one had the rest of the cast over for a potluck Hanukkah dinner. “They are just a really amazing group of kids,” Rademacher said. Rademacher said this cast is a young one — only three of the 13 members are seniors. Freshmen Justin Baltzegar, Hunter Brown and Bryce Carson play Nazi soldiers. They said they took it upon themselves to learn how the Gestapo worked and how to properly speak with a German accent. All of their lines are improvised.“We need things to be accomplished, but how we go about accomplishing them varies from show to show,” Baltzegar said. Carson said he hopes their performance of “The Diary of Anne Frank” provides a good educational experience for audiences. “Even through how horrible people can be, you can still forgive like Anne did,” he said.Baltzegar said the show is a humanizing look at Frank’s experiences.“The people at the Annex weren’t perfect,” Baltzegar said, “but they were people, and they didn’t deserve what happened to them.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” will open at 7:30 p.m. today at the IU Auditorium.Tickets are available at $20 for students and $38 for the general public. There will be an additional performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday.The musical, based on the 1991 Disney film of the same name, tells the story of Belle and her encounter with the Beast, who is actually a prince cursed because of his selfish behavior. The Beast has a limited time to learn how to love others, or else he must remain a hairy monster, and his servants must stay as the household objects into which they were transformed. The stage version of “Beauty and the Beast” features all of the movie’s music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, with songs added specifically for the musical. Menken composed the music to these new songs and Tim Rice wrote the lyrics. The show made its Broadway debut in 1994 and ran for almost 5,500 performances before closing in 2007. Maria Talbert, associate director of the IU Auditorium, said in an email that “Beauty and the Beast” is special because it appeals to audiences of all ages.“This production is visually stunning, deeply heartfelt, and incredibly charming,” she said. “Everyone connects so strongly with this tale because we all want to be loved for more than what is on the exterior.”She said audiences will have a great experience, particularly if they haven’t previously seen the show on stage. “It is a joy to watch audience members light up when they see this show for the first time,” she said. “We expect to see a similar reaction at the performances this year.” Beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium lobby, attendees can take part in the second annual “Kids Night on Broadway.” Talbert said.“Beauty and the Beast”-themed activities, including a “Chip’s Tea Cup Toss” game and a station to make enchanted roses or bookmarks, will be available. She said participants are also encouraged to donate new or gently used books for “Belle’s Book Drive,” which benefits the Indiana South Central Community Action Head Start program. “Beauty and the Beast” last appeared in the Auditorium during the 2009-10 season. The current touring production brought back the original Broadway creative team, including costume designer Ann Hould-Ward, who won a Tony award in 1994 for her work in this musical.Talbert said because the stage production was reimagined, audiences can expect to see the show in a different way this time. “In no other show does a story spring to life like it does for ‘Beauty,’” she said. “It is visually, musically, and emotionally breathtaking.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Facing possibilities of snowfall and miles of highway, dedicated fans travelled from states away to see Patty Griffin perform Tuesday night at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.Audience members Kelly Rains and Monet Bramblette made the journey to Bloomington from Louisville, Ky.Bramblette said they arrived just before the snowstorm hit. “We were ready and willing to see Patty,” Bramblette said. “She’s such a good show.”Folk singer Anais Mitchell opened for the Grammy-award winning artist with a solo acoustic guitar set at 8 p.m.Both Mitchell and Griffin acknowledged the audience for coming out despite the snow.“You guys made it out in the snow. I’m so proud of you,” Griffin said. “You’re the brave ones, so thank you.” Rains said she has been a fan of Griffin’s for several years and has seen her in concert multiple times.“Your soul connects to every word that she has,” Rains said. “She wants her audience to give her their soul.” Travelling with Rains, Bramblette said she has also seen Griffin perform multiple times.“Her lyrics are well written,” Bramblette said. “I’ve never been to a concert where she didn’t disappoint. She seems like a genuinely good person.” Griffin performed on both the acoustic guitar and the piano. She was accompanied by bass player Craig Ross, who produced Griffin’s 2013 album, “American Kid.” Among the songs she played on the guitar was “Little God,” a track from “Silver Bell.” Also released in 2013, “Silver Bell” was originally planned for release in 2000. Other audience members matched Bramblette and Rains’ willingness to see Griffin. Illinois resident Rita Calvert drove five-and-a-half hours to the show from a western suburb of Chicago. Calvert said she knew about the incoming snow, so she made the trip a day early to see Griffin. “She was on my wish list of people to see in this venue because it is so beautiful and quiet and polite,” Calvert said. “The vibe here is beautiful.”Calvert said she enjoys Griffin’s music, particularly her gospel-inspired songs.“They bring me back to my childhood,” Calvert said. “It’s honest. She really sings from her heart.” Bloomington resident Chuck Hanners said he enjoys Griffin’s songs because they’re relatable and allow him to make emotional connections.“She’s probably the best female singer-songwriter out there,” Hanners said. “Her songs are very poignant and heartfelt.”Joe Valentino and his friend Susan Lowry drove in the snow from Indianapolis. “When you get a chance to see Patty, you go and see her,” Valentino said. He said Griffin is a talented songwriter and musician with quality artistry.“She is a songsmith, a craftsman,” Valentino said. “I just appreciate what she has to offer, and a little snow’s not going to stand in our way.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Tony Ellett grew up listening to Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. “I’ve always listened to the records,” Ellett said.He got a chance to listen to some of Presley and Cash’s music played live Tuesday night at the IU Auditorium during the first of two performances of the Tony-nominated musical “Million Dollar Quartet.” Songs by Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins rounded out the show’s music. “Million Dollar Quartet” takes place in December 1956 and depicts a one-time recording session with the four artists at Sun Records in Memphis, Tenn. In a concert style, each musician played several songs solo, and the four men played several numbers as a group. Music included hit songs such as “Great Balls of Fire,” “Hound Dog,” “Ring of Fire” and “I Walk the Line.” Throughout the night, audience members tapped their feet and clapped to the music. Ellett said during the period when the show takes place, his favorite musician was Presley and his favorite song by Presley was “Jailhouse Rock.”“He stood out among the rest,” Ellett said. “He’s a good performer. He had so much energy in everything.”Bob Klemkosky said he was in high school at the time the musical was set. He saw Presley at the Michigan State Fair in 1958 and saw Cash in Lansing, Mich. in the 1960s. “I was a rock n’ roller,” Klemkosky said, adding that he still listens to the music. Freshman Audrey Schnell said she heard the classic rock music playing outside the auditorium and decided to come check out the show with her roommate, Ali Michael. “My dad told me this was a great show,” Schnell said. “It’s nice to have a break from studying. I haven’t been to a musical in a while.” Michael said although she and Schnell didn’t know much about the show, they were excited to hear its music. “The four people in it are so monumental. We both wanted it to be a surprise,” Michael said. “It’s more fun that way.”Jeffrey Hart of Bloomington said although he had never seen “Million Dollar Quartet,” he was interested in the show because it recounts rock ‘n’ roll history.“I lived through it,” Hart said, “I always liked Jerry Lee Lewis the best because he was the craziest.”Hart said one year when he attended summer camp, someone played “Great Balls of Fire.”“I was like, ‘what the heck was that?’” Hart said. “Then when I learned more about his (Lewis’s) life, I thought it was amazing.” Hart also said he once had the opportunity to visit the studio at Sun Records.“It’s cool,” he said. “It’s small and cruddy-looking, but it’s amazing because there’s been so many artists that have been through it.”Teresa Parkes, who traveled to the auditorium from Bloomfield, Ind., said she enjoyed the music because it transcends generations.“My daughter is young and she loves Elvis,” Parkes said. “This is timeless music. People have listened to it for years.” Follow reporter Alyssa Schor on Twitter @schoralyssa.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When Erin Yacko visited a friend in Los Angeles last October, she sought something fun for them to do together. An accounting graduate student at IU, Yacko said she got the idea to attend a taping of “The Price Is Right” after hearing that a live version of the long-running game show was coming to the IU Auditorium.After inquiring online, she bought tickets. Yacko, whose appearance on the show aired Monday on CBS, said she and a fellow IU graduate, who was also making the trip to LA, prepared themselves by watching the show more often. “We got really into it,” Yacko said.Yacko said she and her friends arrived at CBS Studios in LA around 8:30 a.m, the day of the taping. Before going inside, Yacko said they had to fill out forms, get pictures taken and complete an interview with the show’s producer. “We were so slap happy because it was so early in the morning,” Yacko said. “Everyone’s just really hyped up and getting excited for the show.” Once inside, host Drew Carey and announcer George Gray came on stage and explained everything the audience needed to know about the show’s process. Gray called the first four contestants to “come on down.” As contestants won their bid prizes and played pricing games, another contestant would replace him or her, Yacko said. She said while names were called, someone would stand on stage with a poster displaying the new contestant’s name.“It’s super loud in the studio,” Yacko said. “You can’t hear them saying that. Everyone’s screaming.”Then, during the first half of the show, Yacko’s name was called.“When they called my name, I’m pretty sure we weren’t paying attention,” she said. “It was such a delayed reaction. It all happened so fast.”After being outbid by $1 for the first prize, Yacko said she made it on stage following her second attempt. She said she gave Carey a big hug after arriving on stage.“I didn’t think I’d react like that,” Yacko said. She then played a game for a chance to win two designer watches, designer purses, paddleboards and digital cameras. Yacko said she had to decide which prize among the purses, paddleboards and cameras was the same price as the watches.“The game was confusing,” Yacko said. “I had no idea the price of any of that stuff.” Yacko said her friends tried to help and give her signals, even though they didn’t know the correct answer. “It’s just exciting to be up on stage and get input from my friends,” Yacko said. She then got to spin the famous Big Wheel for a chance to go to the showcase round at the end of the show. Yacko said she did not spin a high enough number to go to the showcase. “The most exciting part wasn’t winning anything,” she said. “It was getting to spin the wheel with Drew Carey and giving a shout-out to my friends on TV.”Yacko said although she and her fellow contestants were competing against each other, there were no hard feelings.“Everyone’s so friendly and encouraging to each other. That was nice,” she said. “They’re so happy to be on ‘The Price is Right.’ It was a good time.”Follow reporter Alyssa Schor on Twitter @SchorAlyssa.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When Erin Yacko visited a friend in Los Angeles last October, she sought something fun for them to do together. Her appearance on the show aired Monday on CBS.An accounting graduate student at IU, Yacko said she got the idea to attend a taping of “the Price is Right” after hearing that a live version of the long-running game show was coming to the IU Auditorium.After inquiring online, she acquired tickets. Yacko said she and a fellow IU graduate, who was also making the trip to L.A., prepared themselves by watching the show more often. “We got really into it,” Yacko said.Yacko said she and her friends arrived at CBS Studios in L.A. around 8:30 a.m. the day of the taping. Before going inside, Yacko said they had to fill out forms, get pictures taken and complete an interview with the show’s producer. “We were so slap happy because it was so early in the morning,” Yacko said. “Everyone’s just really hyped up and getting excited for the show.” Once inside, host Drew Carey and announcer George Gray came on stage and explained everything the audience needed to know about the show’s process. Gray called the first four contestants to “come on down.” As contestants won their bid prizes and played pricing games, another contestant would replace him or her, Yacko said. She said while names were called, someone would stand on stage with a poster displaying the new contestant’s name.“It’s super loud in the studio,” Yacko said. “You can’t hear them saying that. Everyone’s screaming.”Then, during the first half of the show, Yacko’s name was called.“When they called my name, I’m pretty sure we weren’t paying attention,” she said. “It was such a delayed reaction. It all happened so fast.”After being outbid by $1 for the first prize, Yacko said she made it on stage following her second attempt. She said she gave Carey a big hug after arriving on stage.“I didn’t think I’d react like that,” Yacko said. She then played a game for a chance to win two designer watches, designer purses, paddleboards and digital cameras. Yacko said she had to decide which prize among the purses, paddleboards and cameras was the same price as the watches.“The game was confusing,” Yacko said. “I had no idea the price of any of that stuff.” Yacko said her friends tried to help and give her signals, even though they didn’t know the correct answer. “It’s just exciting to be up on stage and get input from my friends,” Yacko said. She then got to spin the famous Big Wheel for a chance to go to the showcase round at the end of the show. Yacko said she did not spin a high enough number to go to the showcase. “The most exciting part wasn’t winning anything,” she said. “It was getting to spin the wheel with Drew Carey and giving a shout-out to my friends on TV.”Yacko said although she and her fellow contestants were competing against each other, there were no hard feelings.“Everyone’s so friendly and encouraging to each other. That was nice,” she said. “They’re so happy to be on ‘the Price is Right.’ It was a good time.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Chocolate lovers, rejoice.The 10th annual Art of Chocolate gala will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the IU Art Museum. The event features hors d’oeuvres, chocolate desserts and beverages from local vendors including Scholars Inn, Malibu Grill, Oliver Winery and Peacetree Mountain Truffles. Pre-sale tickets cost $35 for students and $40 for the general public. All tickets cost $50 at the door.Proceeds from Art of Chocolate benefit LIFEDesigns, a local nonprofit that serves children and adults with disabilities. Leslie Abshier, community development officer for LIFEDesigns, said this is the organization’s only large-scale fundraiser and means of supporting their continuing education and employment services.Abshier said the continuing education program allows individuals to learn personal finance, cooking and public transportation, among other life skills. LIFEDesigns also helps people with disabilities find and maintain jobs, build resumes and prepare for interviews.“People should live as independently as they want to,” Abshier said. “Most people don’t want to be taken care of, they want to do things for themselves. Our goal is to partner with them to make their dreams a reality.” Art of Chocolate will also feature entertainment from vocalist and IU alumnus Rusty Shields. In honor of the 10th anniversary, Abshier said entertainers from past years will make appearances.Abshier said she is most looking forward to the special guest, Del Sroufe, who is known for his vegan cooking and cookbook “Forks Over Knives.” “The special guest is always a lot of fun,” Abshier said. “It’ll be very interesting how he can talk about vegan cooking at a chocolate event.”At Art of Chocolate, Sroufe will feature recipes from his new book, “Better Than Vegan.”The event also includes a silent auction. Abshier said in addition to usual prizes like tickets for the following year’s Art of Chocolate, this year’s auction contains works by local artists. Proceeds from the silent auction are split between LIFEDesigns and the artists, which Abshier said allows the two to help each other. “We know that a lot of artists are struggling to make it,” she said. “It works really well, they get more invested in the event.” Sunday’s event is part of the annual Week of Chocolate, which begins Saturday and ends Feb. 1. Each day, a chocolate-themed event will benefit a different local nonprofit. Abshier said LIFEDesigns began the weeklong festival several years before the single Art of Chocolate fundraiser as a way to engage the community. “It’s pretty cool that it’s a community-wide event,” she said. “We figured, who doesn’t like chocolate?”Follow reporter Alyssa Schor on Twitter @SchorAlyssa.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Known for layering her cello music through live-recorded samples, composer and cellist Zoe Keating said her career has followed the rise of computing. The San Francisco-based artist creates her sound using foot controls on her laptop.Born in Ontario,she began playing the cello when 8-years-old and earned a liberal arts degree from Sarah Lawrence College in New York. “I kept playing music all the time,” Keating said. “Using the computer was natural for me to do because I used it on an everyday basis.”After college, Keating worked for a software startup company. In 2003, she quit her job to dedicate herself to music. She said being around computers made her think about how to incorporate her music with technology. “I sort of realized that time was passing,” Keating said. Keating has performed with Imogen Heap, Tears for Fears and Amanda Palmer, among other artists. She is also known for selling her music without the backing of a record label and has sold more than 60,000 copies of her albums on the Internet.“It just seemed like the easiest way to accomplish what I wanted to do,” she said. “I don’t know if I’d have it any other way.” Keating’s do-it-yourself approach to her music has given her national attention and press. She has released two albums and one EP, and her music has been featured in films, television commercials, dance pieces and a play, according to her website. In 2011, she was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and was featured on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.”Keating said though she wouldn’t mind more staff to help her with the business aspects, overall, she is happy performing as a solo artist. “I love performing and that feeling with the stage,” she said. “You’re creating a moment that’ll never happen again.”Keating will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are available for $20.Keating said this is her first solo appearance in Bloomington, although she performed in town in 2004 with cello-rock group Rasputina. The show is the result of a Facebook poll, Keating said. She asked fans where they wanted to see her perform in any city within 500 miles of Cincinnati. Bloomington finished among the top choices.“I’m really curious to meet the people who wanted me to come there,” Keating said. Saturday’s performance is Keating’s last stop on her winter tour before she travels to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting. Dan Coleman, a talent buyer at the Bishop, said Keating’s style of combined genres makes for a great show.“She’s a very talented cellist and a great improviser,” he said. “It’s going to be a very unique experience.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>by Alyssa SchorKnown for layering her cello music through live-recorded samples, composer and cellist Zoe Keating said her career has followed the rise of computing. The San Francisco-based artist creates her sound using foot controls on her laptop. Born in Ontario,she began playing the cello when 8-years-old and earned a liberal arts degree from Sarah Lawrence College in New York. “I kept playing music all the time,” Keating said. “Using the computer was natural for me to do because I used it on an everyday basis.”After college, Keating worked for a software startup company. In 2003, she quit her job to dedicate herself to music. She said being around computers made her think about how to incorporate her music with technology. “I sort of realized that time was passing,” Keating said. Keating has performed with Imogen Heap, Tears for Fears and Amanda Palmer, among other artists. She is also known for selling her music without the backing of a record label and has sold more than 60,000 copies of her albums on the Internet.“It just seemed like the easiest way to accomplish what I wanted to do,” she said. “I don’t know if I’d have it any other way.” Keating’s do-it-yourself approach to her music has given her national attention and press. She has released two albums and one EP, and her music has been featured in films, television commercials, dance pieces and a play, according to her website. In 2011, she was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and was featured on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.”Keating said though she wouldn’t mind more staff to help her with the business aspects, overall, she is happy performing as a solo artist. “I love performing and that feeling with the stage,” she said. “You’re creating a moment that’ll never happen again.”Keating will perform at the Bishop Bar Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are available for $20.Keating said this is her first solo appearance in Bloomington, although she performed in town in 2004 with cello-rock group Rasputina. The show is the result of a Facebook poll, Keating said. She had asked fans where they wanted to see her perform in any city within 500 miles of Cincinnati. Bloomington finished among the top choices.“I’m really curious to meet the people who wanted me to come there,” Keating said. Saturday’s performance is Keating’s last stop on her winter tour before she travels to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting. Dan Coleman, a talent buyer at the Bishop, said Keating’s style of combined genres makes for a great show.“She’s a very talented cellist and a great improviser,” he said. “It’s going to be a very unique experience.” --aischor@indiana.eduFollow reporter Alyssa Schor on Twitter @SchorAlyssa.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The snow didn’t stop Rhonda and Scott Smith from driving to Bloomington from Greenwood, Ind., on Friday night.Despite the weather, the couple made the trip to the IU Auditorium to see the first of two performances of “Mamma Mia!” Rhonda said she and Scott came to visit her children, who attend IU, and to see a show she had wanted to see for a while.“It was amazing, one of the best I’ve seen,” she said. “We were going to come one way or the other.” Freshman Lillian Anderson said although she saw the 2008 film, she had never seen “Mamma Mia!” live.“I really like it,” she said. “I especially like the big group dances. I’m more impressed with the singing when it was live than it was in the movie.”The musical, based on the hit songs of ABBA, included tunes like “S.O.S.,” “Voulez-Vous” and “Lay All Your Love on Me.”The show ran at the IU Auditorium at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights.The story begins as Sophie, played by Chelsea Williams, reads her mother Donna’s diary and discovers she may have three possible fathers. Sophie, who is about to be married, wants her father to walk her down the aisle and invites the three men — Bill, Harry and Sam — without telling Donna. On the night before the wedding, each of the men realizes why Sophie invited him and asks to walk her down the aisle. Meanwhile, Donna’s best friends and former group mates, Rosie and Tanya, join her for the occasion. The show has been performed for over 50 million people in the world and is currently in its 10th year on Broadway and its 13th year in London’s West End Theater. The show has traveled internationally, playing in more than 50 cities around the world.Wearing bright 1970s-style jumpsuits and platform shoes, they perform one more time as “Donna and the Dynamos” for Sophie and her friends. The three women brought out the jumpsuits again during the show’s encore. The cast performed “Mamma Mia” and “Dancing Queen,” this time in more of a concert style.During the encore, members of the audience were on their feet. They clapped, danced and waved their arms to the music, and some even sang along. Georgia Kate Haege, who played Donna, kept the encore going with a full cast performance of “Waterloo.”“OK, Bloomington, do you want one more?” she said. The audience cheered during “Waterloo” as the three men joined the women in wearing colorful jumpsuits.Smith said she was impressed with Haege’s performance and the cast’s vocals.“It makes you want to get up and dance with them,” she said. “It’s one of those feel-good musicals.”Bloomington resident Florence Shelton said she enjoyed the show and the music.“Those people have such energy,” she said of the cast. “I don’t know how they do it night after night.” Follow reporter Alyssa Schor on Twitter @SchorAlyssa.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The long-running musical “Mamma Mia!” will begin a two-night run at 8 p.m. today at the IU Auditorium.The show, based on the music of Swedish pop band ABBA, tells the story of a wedding about to take place on a small Greek island.Bride-to-be Sophie is determined to have her father walk her down the aisle. Unsure of her father’s identity, Sophie secretly invites three men from her mother’s past to the wedding. The music includes hit songs such as “Dancing Queen,” “Super Trouper,” “The Winner Takes It All” and “Take a Chance on Me.”“Mamma Mia!” premiered in London in 1999. The Broadway version debuted in 2001 and has performed more than 5,000 shows since, making it the 10th longest-running show in Broadway history. In 2008, the musical was adapted into a film starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth. The movie received a Golden Globe nomination in 2009 for Best Motion Picture: Comedy or Musical. Bloomington is part of the show’s 2013-14 North American tour, which runs until June. Maria Talbert, associate director of the IU Auditorium, said this is the show’s third appearance at the auditorium. The other two runs occurred in 2006 and 2009. She said people love the show because it is fun and heart-warming. “Everything about it is amazing,” Talbert said. “People come and see it over and over again.”Talbert said even though the show is not sold out, tickets are selling quickly. Tickets begin at $20 for students and $38 for the general public and can be purchased at iuauditorium.com or at the box office.She said the show’s resonating story appeals to all generations, and music is what makes “Mamma Mia!” so special and popular. “Even if you didn’t grow up listening to ABBA, those tunes are threaded through our culture today,” she said. “It’s almost like ABBA wrote the music for this musical. It just works so well for this show.”Talbert said the show has a concert-like vibe, particularly at the end. She said people who have not previously seen the show will be amazed at how many people in the audience came to see it again.“It’s just one of those nights that you can’t soon forget and you want to relive,” she said. “Those that come will really have one of the best nights of their lives.”Follow reporter Alyssa Schor on Twitter @SchorAlyssa.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The sounds of jazz filled the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Monday night as the Jacobs School of Music Jazz Combo and Latin Jazz Ensemble took the stage.The six-member Jazz Combo, under the direction of Dave Stryker, performed first. Their selections included “I Thought About You” by Jimmy Van Heusen and “Fantasy in D” by Cedar Walton. The ensemble also played two original compositions by its own members — “Hmm” by drummer Josh Roberts and “I Haven’t Met Her” by guitarist Matt MacDougall, who was unable to perform due to an injury.Tenor saxophonist Matthew Babineaux, a freshman, said this is the group’s fifth performance this semester.“I like the activity, the unity, and how that comes through the instruments,” Babineaux said. Afterwards, the 27-member Latin Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Michael Spiro and Wayne Wallace, took the stage. Spiro began the show by leading the audience in clapping the beat to the first selection, “Mis Amigos” by Wallace. Spiro snapped his fingers and danced along as he conducted the piece.Spiro, who has directed the band for six years, said the ensemble has prepared for this performance since the beginning of the semester. “This band has developed a reputation for a band that plays hard, swinging groove music from Latin America that you can dance to,” he said. “It’s not just ‘here’s some music.’ They will be entertained.”Spiro said he enjoyed seeing the band’s commitment to getting the music right and coming together as an ensemble rather than as individuals.“We put our heart and soul into the performance,” he said. Throughout the show, members of the trombone and trumpet sections swayed to the music, and multiple members in the audience tapped their feet and bobbed their heads to the beat. The band played various Latin American jazz styles, including a cha-cha in Tito Puente’s “El Cayuco” and a New York salsa style in Raul Marrero’s “La Hija de Lola.” Music student Yuriria Rodriguez provided the vocals to those pieces.Next, the ensemble performed “Prelude to a Kiss” by Duke Ellington with arrangement by Wallace.“He’s a really incredible writer and arranger,” senior band member and percussionist Mitch Shiner said.Wallace is in his first year co-directing this ensemble. He said he previously directed groups throughout California, including his native city of San Francisco. He said he enjoys teaching at IU.“I’m loving Indiana, Bloomington, the people and the school,” he said. “Coming from the Bay Area to here has been a natural fit. It’s not the same, but there’s a very cool aura about this area. The way it supports the arts is wonderful.”Wallace said he had no expectations going into the performance, but said he hoped the nuance of the music was something people could enjoy.“It comes out the way it comes out,” he said. “I would hope that all the work that we’ve done in rehearsal is heard by people.”The performance finished with Wallace’s “Art of the Dance,” a mixture of Cuban, funk and Trinidadian soul music. Shiner, who plays the congas, vibraphone and timbales, said he loves how the percussion combines with the big band sound.“The band just brings high energy wherever we go,” he said. “We exude energy and breathe life into every musical performance.”Follow reporter Alyssa Schor on Twitter @SchorAlyssa.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU Bloomington now ranks fifth in the nation for total number of students studying abroad, according to data released Monday from the Institute of International Education’s 2013 Open Doors report. Last year, IU ranked seventh. According to the report, 2,328 IUB students studied abroad in a credit-granting program in the 2011-12 academic year. In 2010-11, 2,203 students went abroad. Kathleen Sideli, associate vice president for overseas study, said these increased numbers and rankings show IU is meeting its strategic goals for international programs set back in 2008. These goals, she said, include diversifying the university’s study abroad programs, program locations, fields of study available and student demographics.“We’re very pleased that IU students consider study abroad an integral part of their degree programs,” Sideli said. “Today, more than ever, students need to understand the way other cultures operate in order to understand their place in the world.” IUB also ranks ninth in the nation for number of students spending a semester abroad, tenth in the nation for students studying abroad for a summer or in programs of eight weeks or less and 13th in the nation for students spending an academic or calendar year abroad, according to the report.Sideli said about 40 percent of IU students studying abroad complete semester-long programs, which is slightly higher than the report’s national average of 37.9 percent.IU President Michael A. McRobbie said an international dimension to education has become a more important focus at IU, according to an IU press release. “This international dimension, we are convinced, has never been more vital to our graduates’ success,” McRobbie said in the release. McRobbie said collaborating with institutions around the world creates better study abroad opportunities for students and also attracts the best international students to study at IU.IU ranked 13th in the nation for total number of international students coming to campus to study during the 2012-13 year, according to the report. Rendy Schrader, director of international student and scholar advising for the Office of International Services, said international students often look to rankings when deciding where to attend school in the U.S.“If they know that there are big numbers of international students on this campus, then we’re doing something right,” she said. Schrader said having students who speak different languages can create a more diverse student population and enhance students’ education. “We’re literally bringing the world to IU,” she said. “For international students themselves, they’re looking for global careers. This is a fantastic way to understand American business and how it impacts the world.”According to the press release, 7,917 international students studied at one of IU’s campuses in 2012-13, a 7-percent increase from 2011-12. International students at IUB come from 117 countries, particularly East Asia and India, the release said. Schrader said the increased numbers of international students coming to IU and of IU students going abroad brings the University closer to meeting McRobbie’s ideals of a global institution.“Having the international students present here and having American students go abroad is the root of it all,” she said. Follow reporter Alyssa Schor on Twitter @alyssa_schor29.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Amy Lidell wants to be a professional violinist.Every Saturday, she and fellow members of the Jacobs School of Music String Academy rehearse group pieces. She also meets with a chamber ensemble once a week and attends a private lesson at least once a week.In between lessons and rehearsals, Lidell said she just practices and practices.The 18-year-old has been playing the violin since age five, following in the footsteps of her older brother. She began her violin career with the String Academy, which is open to children ages five to 18. “They made me into a player,” Lidell said. “They have amazing teachers and opportunities for us.” String Academy violin students, known as the Violin Virtuosi, are preparing for “Whiz Kids,” where they will perform with members of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra.The concert will take place on Nov. 16. Virtuosi members will perform a Vivaldi concerto and Kreisler’s “Praeludium and Allegro” with the orchestra. The students play both pieces from memory. Their first joint rehearsal took place Tuesday night at Bloomington High School South.Brenda Brenner, co-director of the academy and one of its violin instructors, said the students performing in this concert are of the most advanced skill levels the program has to offer.These levels, she said, are called master class, violin ensemble and violin virtuosi, which is the highest level. “We take these kids from the beginning to playing artist’s literature and learning to play not only alone, but together as a chamber ensemble,” Brenner said. Matteo Vidali, 12, said he has played violin for about nine years. He said at that time, a family friend told his parents about the String Academy. “I just like playing music,” he said. “I like the group lessons especially because you get to meet with your friends once a week and play fun pieces.”Brenner, who has taught students in the academy for 21 years, said a program like this gives these students a creative outlet through music.“It enriches one’s life,” she said. “It’s something they can do their entire life. It gives them a support group of people who are developing the skill at a high level.”Brenner said about 110 violin students and about 30 cello students enroll in the program each semester. She said the students become great friends in addition to learning music.“They love each other like brothers and sisters,” Brenner said. “They really care about each other.” Nicholas Hersh, music director of the BSO, said he had heard about the String Academy, although he had never heard them play until Tuesday’s rehearsal.“This is one of the premiere young violin ensembles in the country,” he said. “They are absolutely great. I have no worries.”Donna Lafferty, executive director of the BSO, said seeing the students perform with the adult orchestra gives her hope for the future of classical music. “It makes me cry with happiness,” Lafferty said. “It’s beautiful, watching how dedicated they are. These kids are making me believe there’s a really positive future.”Although the private and group lessons and daily practice is a lot of work, Vidali said he always has fun playing and rarely gets tired of it.“Sometimes I feel like I want to give up,” he said, “but then the next day I just want to do it again.”Follow reporter Alyssa Schor on Twitter @SchorAlyssa.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Amjad Ali Khan, a well-known Indian classical music artist and composer, presented a public demonstration of the sarod Wednesday at Auer Hall.Khan is visiting Bloomington for the week to perform at the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival on Saturday and to teach a one credit hour course in Indian classical music as the School of Global and International Studies’ first artist in residence. Michael Dodson, director of the Dhar India Studies Program, said Khan had a long relationship with IU and Bloomington and previously performed at Lotus. However, this is Khan’s first time teaching at IU, Dodson said.Khan, a sixth-generation sarod player, began performing at 6 years old. Since then, he has performed worldwide and received numerous awards, including a Grammy nomination in 2010 and the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavna Award, an honor given by the Indian government to someone who promotes communal harmony and peace. “It’s like having the Rolling Stones,” Dodson said. “He’s giant on the Indian classical music scene, and he’s an extraordinary person as well.”Maria Bucur-Deckard, SGIS associate dean for international programs, said the idea for the artist in residence program came about six months ago during discussions with representatives from the Lotus Festival in an effort to bring the musicians for a longer stay.“It’s worked out beautifully,” Deckard said. “It’s been such a lovely thing. The idea is to have access to these brilliant people and make their talents more easily translatable for people who are not experts in that area.” Khan’s class began Monday and ends Friday. Students spend two and a half hours each day learning the fundamentals of classical Indian music through traditional methods, including melodic forms known as raga and rhythmic patterns known as taal. During Wednesday’s demonstration, students sat on stage and sang along during the first two pieces. After the students’ portion, Khan, who was joined on stage by his son Ayaan, played a few pieces by themselves. Khan said none of the music is written down.“Everything is new and natural,” he said. Dodson said the first piece the students performed was called “Rag Yaman,” which was based on melodic scales, and the other was in a style called “Tarana” with verbal sounds but no actual lyrics. “It’s not just that they’re learning a new form of music,” Dodson said. “They’re learning a tradition — a very different tradition.” Freshman Sara Nemes said she heard about the class through her father, an international studies professor.“I’m really into cultures and music as well, so I thought it would be a really interesting experience,” Nemes said. “He’s a very esteemed, illustrious man, but he’s helping us understand it ourselves and master it. I really appreciate his kindness and his passion for his instrument.”Freshman Vasundhara Singh said she had a great experience hearing the sarod onstage and singing along to Khan’s playing. “This was honestly an amazing experience,” Singh said. “He’s sort of a legend in India, so to be able to share the stage with him was an amazing experience.”Khan said he’s really enjoyed working with the students during the week.“I’m so pleasantly surprised with the talent of the students here,” he said. “They’re so musical. I hope I can come back again to spend more time.”He said the students were courageous for learning the new music and performing it. “Whoever is learning creative arts, whoever is learning music, should be able to perform anything under any circumstance,” Khan said.Sophomore Lavanya Narayanan got to sing solo during the student pieces. She said she has been singing for 14 years and previously trained in Carnatic, a South Indian classical music style.At one point in the demonstration, Khan pulled Narayanan over and whispered to her — she was getting another solo. She said she was not expecting this one.“It was such a learning experience,” Narayanan said.Singh said the class has taught her more than just Indian music. “It’s a cultural thing, and it’s really special,” she said. “It’s something that anyone could enjoy.”Follow reporter Alyssa Schor on Twitter @SchorAlyssa.